Description

The $(element).data() call is very expensive because it triggers setData/getData events, which in turn make some other .datat() calls. If the events are not needed, please use $.data(element, key, val) call which are much faster.
The jquery Widget has one expensive $(element).data() call on _createWidget:function(). This make creating hundreds of widget very slow. Please replace:
this.element = $( element ).data( this.widgetName, this );
with
this.element = $( element );
$.data(element, this.widgetName, this );
Actually, many .data calls in the Widget use the $.data() form which is good.
But most such calls in the Draggable code use the evil $(this).data() call.
Someone should clean up all the other UI .js for the slow and unnecessary $(this).data() calls.

Setting the component to ui.widget for now, as optimizations in ui.widget, especially in the create method, affects everything.